Francis Ford Coppola‘s “Megalopolis” is bringing in some extra help for the lead-up to its theatrical release — and the “Godfather” auteur didn’t even have to look outside his own family for it.
The self-financed sci-fi epic, which premiered at Cannes and is set to play the Toronto International Film Festival next month before Lionsgate releases it on September 27, has enlisted Utopia to assist with the film‘s rollout. The boutique distributor, which was founded by Coppola’s nephew Robert Schwartzman, will collaborate with Lionsgate to provide alternative marketing services to help the film reach younger audiences.
Per a press release, Utopia will aid Lionsgate’s rollout of the film with a series of “specialty marketing, word-of-mouth, and non-traditional theatrical distribution initiatives.”
Since its founding in 2019, Utopia has carved out a niche for itself as a distributor of challenging independent films, often with a genre slant, that are produced on very low budgets. Early reviews suggest that “Megalopolis” fits two thirds of those criteria — while its reported $120 million budget puts it in line with four-quadrant studio blockbusters, its substance appears more in line with the avant-garde sensibilities of Utopia hits like “Divinity” and “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair.” As Coppola and Lionsgate figure out how to sell a film that seems to relish its own unapproachability to mass audiences, Utopia could be key to getting younger cinephiles excited about the 85-year-old’s latest film.
Coppola attempted to strike a distribution deal for “Megalopolis” before taking the film to Cannes, but was unable to land a suitor for what has been described by many as a polarizing project. The film proved predictably divisive at Cannes — though IndieWire’s David Ehrlich praised it in his B+ review — with many voices openly wondering if it was possible to market to mainstream audiences. Lionsgate eventually stepped in to distribute the film, which will be released on IMAX screens around the world, though Coppola is reportedly covering many of the marketing costs himself.
“I am confident we are in great hands with Lionsgate, and Robert and his team at Utopia will be a tremendous addition,” Francis Ford Coppola said in a statement. “They have proven that there is success in an artist-first approach while also making bold moves, especially at a time when our film business often shies away from daring endeavors. I know Utopia will help ‘Megalopolis’ discover untapped audiences and opportunities for its theatrical launch alongside Lionsgate.”
“The visionary, inventive, and cinematic epic that is ‘Megalopolis’ is exactly the kind of film that excites us at Utopia,” Schwartzman added. “It could only come from a storyteller like Francis who has been known to take business and creative risks to support his vision. We are already deep in conversations with Lionsgate’s incredible team and are working together to collaborate on a special campaign to support this one-of-a-kind film experience.”
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